World Cup 2026: Scotland defender Ben Gannon-Doak ‘highly prepared’ after injury to miss Euro 2024 through injury | Football news
They say hindsight is a wonderful thing, and Scotland midfielder Ben Gannon-Doak is hoping that sentiment rings true this summer.
The Bournemouth midfielder is part of Steve Clarke’s 26-man World Cup squad, two years after he was forced to miss the European Championships.
He made a splash in Clarke’s selection for Euro 2024, but failure to fully recover from injury meant he missed the cut.
The 20-year-old was heartbroken about missing the tournament in Germany, but now believes it would have been a blessing to hide it.
“The Euros might be too early, but I don’t think I’d be playing if I was there,” he said. Sky Sports News.
“I think that if I had gone to play, I would not have answered well what I know I would have done.
“I’m more prepared and ready to play in the tournament now than I was then.”
The Scottish team is already in the USA preparing for this country’s first World Cup since 1998.
Gannon-Doak is one of eight members of the Scotland squad who were not born at the time, while 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon may be the only player with genuine memories of the tournament in France.
“Little boys like me and Findlay [Curtis] Coming to the team, there is an element of fearlessness,” he added.
“Experienced lads who have played 70 or 80 games for Scotland, they can handle these games. I think it’s a good mix.”
Craig Gordon will be the oldest player at the World Cup this summer
Asked if Scotland could go through to the group stage of a major tournament, the former Liverpool player added: “It’s never been done in terms of Scottish teams, but we have everything we need to do it.
“I think if you see the way the other guys are, we’re in a good place as a team.
“If you ask one of the more experienced guys, they’d say the same thing.”
Scotland’s full World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (TBC), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli).
Leaders: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Rangers), Ross Stewart (Southampton).
